title: Biomechanics and physiological parameters during gait in lower-limb amputees: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this systematic review was to identify which biomechanical and physiological parameters are the most relevant, commonly used, able to discriminate and/or have specific clinical relevance for the gait analysis of lower-limb amputees (LLA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an electronic search via the PubMed, EMBASE and ISI Web of Knowledge databases from 1979 to May 2009. Two independent reviewers assessed the title and abstract of each identified study. The quality assessment of the full text was undertaken using a 13-item checklist divided into three levels: A, B, and C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature search identified 584 abstracts to be considered. After applying the inclusion criteria, we reviewed the full text of a total of 89 articles. The mean article quality was 8±2. No A-level article was found; the primary reason was a negative score in blinded outcome assessment. Sixty-six articles (74%) corresponded to a B-level, and two articles (2%) corresponded to a C-level. Twenty-one articles (24%) did not acquire enough points to be assigned to any level. In this study, we present and discuss the most commonly used and most relevant 32 parameters. Many of the parameters found were not reported in enough studies or in enough detail to allow a useful evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic review can help researchers compare, choose and develop the most appropriate gait evaluation protocol for their field of study, based on the articles with best scores on the criteria list and the relevance of specific biomechanical and physiological parameters.
authors.affiliation: UVHC, LAMIH, F-59313 Valenciennes, France. Yoshimasa.SagawaJunior@meletu.univ-valenciennes.fr
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sagawa
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Turcot
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armand
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thevenon
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vuillerme
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Watelain
mesh_terms: D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D004576:Electromyography; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D007866:Leg; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D016138:Walking